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Women who fell into the making-do/comfortable group lived 1.6 years longer than their poorer counterparts.

The report – which also used postcode data and information from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA) – highlights how socio-economic factors such as wealth, marriage, loneliness or health impact on longevity.

The research – developed to help pension funds make better investment choices – found more affluent retirees living longer perhaps because they were less likely to be lonely or smoke, both of which can affect health.

Our evidence that affluent men are living longer and pulling away is hugely important

Researcher Steven Baxter

Graham Vidler, external affairs director at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, said: “Longevity at older ages is impacted by a wide variety of factors including the effectiveness of the flu jab, harsh winters and access to social care.

“However, the ELSA data also underlines that healthy habits such as regular exercise are also likely to be a significant contributor to longevity.

“So one size does not fit all and in order for defined benefit pension schemes to manage their liabilities, trustees and managers need to build a wider awareness of the issue as well as understand more about the members of their schemes.”

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As part of the report, additional analysis of the ELSA was undertaken to identify the health and social habits of each group.

Those who were in the comfortable group were more likely to regularly undertake moderate exercise, have never smoked and be married or in a civil partnership which is likely to have contributed to their increased longevity.

Companionship also plays a role with 78 per cent of ‘comfortable’ men saying they rarely lack companionship, compared to those who are hard-pressed (67 per cent).

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The figures are based on analysis of 2.5million pensioners

Steven Baxter, head of research at health and longevity specialists Club Vita, said: “For pension schemes, having an insight into the socio-economic dynamics of longevity trends has never been more important.

“Our evidence that affluent men are living longer and pulling away is hugely important.

“It will have a massive impact on the projections and assumptions used by pension schemes, as a large proportion of the liabilities are in this socio economic group.

“At a societal level it is concerning to see that there has been a divergence in life expectancy expectations between different socio economic groups.

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The research was carried out to help pension funds make better investments

“The slowdown in longevity for much of society is likely to have an impact of a wide range of support services including health and long term care. It also raises questions over the best approach to setting the State Pension Age.”

Over the past few decades there has been a strong improvement in life expectancy in the UK, both at birth and also at age 65, but this trend has slowed since 2011.

Updated projection from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, based on death statistics from the Office for National Statistics, suggest men aged 65 will now live another 22.2 years, down from 22.8 years in 2013.

Women aged 65 will now live for a further 24.1 years, down from 25.1 years in 2013.